Sept. 15, 2006

Throughout the season, members of the UNC rowing team will provide TarHeelBlue.com readers with an inside look at the Carolina program and the experience of being a varsity athlete at UNC. This installment, the first of the 2006-07 school year, is by Eleanor Saunders, a sophomore from Chapel Hill.

How did we come up with "rowing along"? Here's my twist on the derivation: you all, family or friends, care enough about us to be interested in our lives. If you think reading vicariously is as close as you come to the sport, though, allow me to expose our motivational secrets. When legs burn and breath comes hard, counting numbers just doesn't cut it. It's the magic infusion, the "power ten for (fill in your name)," that pulls the oar so deftly and speedily. So thank you for being someone who would come to mind; that is powerful. And if you feel like carving a voodoo oar out of a popsicle stick and giving it a tug once in a while (particularly in the early mornings for synchronicity), all the better.

So this week? Imagine a small (Nike brand) hand towel. That represents our team. Coaches Sarah and Carrie and Jim have taken the two ends of that towel and twisted, and a University-lake-full of improvements has come pouring out. None of us knew we were so saturated with improvements to be made, but being wrung out is a surprisingly relieving experience. The twisting of the towel (10 kilometers at full pressure) feels a little torturous, but LC flattens us back out with all sorts of funky yoga poses.

One of the predominating improvements involves our backs, working to keep them strong and straight and tilted forward at just the right points in the stroke. Positioning the back for maximum leverage is a huge part of rowing, and many of us are not used to the optimal posture. We've been focusing hard, feeling regal and energetic and powerful at our updated torso angles.

Who is behind our posture renovations? New coaches Carrie and Jim have started right off firing corrections at us; their frankness is just outstanding. They are both tough and no-nonsense and give just the right brand of criticism to make us want to work. Also, the criticism between the two is consistent and even complementary; they are clearly knowledgeable and observant. And totally fun!

Not only is the team's technique improving, but so is our fitness. Today the coaches reminded us that nobody is ever fit enough, since fitness is a continual striving. That is such a difficult concept, but at the same time so fascinating. For rowers as continually aspiring fit athletes, we are surrounded by inspiration and stimulation. Our new weight trainer Melissa is intense and excited to help us build muscle, and coaches Sarah and Carrie are so supportive of the idea that they work out with us. Stephen and Michelle, best novice coaches in the world, are hugely dedicated to the sport and glide so gracefully in their sleek black sculling shells. They serve as constant reminders of how beautiful a sport rowing is. No worries that fitness is never-ending, because our fitness is an art.

Speaking of Stephen and Michelle, the team is thrilled to welcome a new bunch of novices. They are cheerful and athletic and very tall, all good signs.

The team is growing from all angles: new coaches, new levels of technique and fitness, new rowers, and a new season! We are excited to cohere and excited to move forward. Until next time...